Car port oil drip mat

ABSTRACT

A car port oil drip mat constituted by a frame including a peripheral upstanding flange and an intermediate partition dividing the area bounded by the flange into upper and lower panlike compartments, each of the compartments being filled with a particulate absorbent material and the whole enclosed within a fabric envelope, the upper pan-like compartment rendered oilresistant by a plastic lining or the like to retain oil that drips from a vehicle while the bottom portion constitutes a blotter for absorbing previously dripped oil.

United States Patent [191 Stack 51 Mar. 27, 1973 [54] CAR PORT OIL DRIP MAT [76] Inventor: Louis J. Stack, 704 S. Magnolia St., Albany, Ga. 31705 22 Filed: July 16, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 163,386

[52] US. Cl ..184/l06, l5/2l0 [51] ..Fl6n 31/02 [58] Field of Search ..l84/l06; 141/364;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,141,522 7/1964 Fitzpatrick ..184/l06 2,986,235 5/1961 Weibert, Jr..... ....184/l06 2,990,033 6/1961 Arnold ..184/l06 8/1968 Mitchell 1. ....l5/2l0R 10/1949 Epstein et al. ..l5/209R Primary Examiner-Leon G. Machlin Att0rneylmirie & Smiley [57] ABSTRACT A car port oil drip mat constituted by a frame including a peripheral upstanding flange and an intermediate partition dividing the area bounded by the flange into upper and lower pan-like compartments, each of the compartments being filled with a particulate absorbent material and the whole enclosed within a fabric envelope, the upper pan-like compartment rendered oilresistant by a plastic lining or the like to retain oil that drips from a vehicle while the bottom portion constitutes a blotter for absorbing previously dripped oil.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MAR 2 71973 FIGI FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A car port constitutes a parking area, usually surfaced, immediately adjacent a dwelling and protected by an overhead roof extending from the dwelling. As a general rule a vehicle is parked substantially in the same exact position within the car port, and if it develops an oil leak, the floor of the port becomes dirty and accumulates a sticky, greasy mass that is difficult to clean and remove. Normally, there is a doorway from the dwelling to the car port and consequently the car pedestrian can trip. Moreover, the known oil drip mats are directed practically exclusively to the absorbing of dripped oil and are not concerned with blotting up previously dripped oil. On the other hand, if the drip mats are sufficiently small to preclude a hazard to walking, they frequently are subject to being carried away by dogs and similar animals to be used as play things so that their beneficial use is eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A car port oil drip mat according to the present invention constitutes a relatively small assembly which may be as small as about 12 inches in diameter and comprises a framework which includes 'a vertically disposed peripheral flange subdivided into upper and lower chamber areas by an intermediate panel extending horizontally between the opposite sides of the flange. Conveniently, this frame may comprise two bottom-to-bottom pan-like members. The upper chamber or pan area is lined with an oil-proof material such as a thermoplastic, either as coating or as a sheeting, and the two chambers or areas are filled with a particulate absorbent material, preferably one especially suitable for absorbing oil. The whole assembly is enclosed within a fabric envelope that readily passes oil to retain the particulate material within the respective chambers or compartments. Preferably, the muslin or fabric envelope may be constituted by two sheets whose edges are brought together around the flanges and secured in the assembly by an adhesive that is resistant to gasoline, oil and water. If the framework is constituted by two pan-shaped members, they may be secured together along with the edges of the fabric by the adhesive. Preferably the absorbent particulate is thoroughly mixed with an animal repellant to inhibit animals from playing with the mat and it has been found that ground pepper is an excellent repellent because of its long lasting quality even after it has been wetted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a car port with a vehicle parked therein and an oil mat according to the invention disposed beneath the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of an oil drip mat according to the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in detail, specifically to FIG. 1, the usual car port C comprises a surface area A immediately adjoining a dwelling D and protected by a roof R extending from the dwelling, with the free edge of the roof usually being supported by one or more posts P. As the vehicle V usually is parked in the exact same location time after time, when it develops an oil leak, it creates a greasy, oily pool in a particular area on the floor A that becomes a hazard both to physical being as well as a soil hazard to pedestrians who should happen to walk through the port when it is unoccupied. According to the present invention an oil mat 10 is laid on the floor over the area where the oil drip has accumulated.

The mat 10, as shown in FIG. 2, constitutes a relatively flat body usually of a geometric configuration which may be of any desired shape and is shown as circular but obviously can be square, rectangular or any other shape. The body is enclosed within an envelope and as the mat is specifically constructed for drip absorbing and surface blotting, the upper or drip absorbing side of the mat is marked THIS SIDE UP. Thus the mat will always be properly positioned when placed in a driveway or car port.

The structure of the mat itself may best be seen in FIG. 3, wherein it will be noted that the mat comprises a frame constituted by a peripheral vertically disposed flange or rim 12 with an intermediate panel 14 extending between the opposite sides of the rim and subdividing the area bounded by the rim into upper and lower areas 16 and 18 respectively. The frame 12 conveniently may be composed of two relatively flat pans that are disposed bottom-to-bottom and which are secured together in any suitable manner. The pans may be composed of any suitable material and fiber board or the like is highly suitable because of its lightness of weight and low cost. The fiber board may be treated with a suitable sizing to lend stiffness and increase its resistance to the elements.

The upper area or chamber 16 preferably is lined with an oil-resistant material 20 which may be constituted by a coating or a sheet liner. This lining precludes seepage of oil accumulated in the upper drip area or chamber 16 through the intermediate panel 14 into the lower chamber or area 18, and it has been found that polyolefin plastic e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene are highly suitable.

The areas 16 and 18 are filled with a particulate material 22 that is highly absorbent with respect to oil and an argillaceous absorbent e.g. kaolin, fullers earth or bentonite, is especially suitable for this purpose. The whole assembly is enclosed within a fabric envelope 24 of a material such as cotton muslin that readily absorbs and passes oil. Conveniently, this envelope may comprise two sections of material respectively spanning the open top and bottom surfaces of the mat with the edges of the material pulled over the outside of the rim 12 and secured by an adhesive 26 that is resistant to gas, oil and water. If the frame is formed by two pans, the edges of the fabric material may be interposed between the edge portions of the pan bottoms and the adhesive 26 may be employed not only for securing the fabric but also the pans as a unit. Alternatively, the assembly may be bonded together as by heat sealing.

As the mat is relatively small and light weight, it frequently is attractive to dogs and other small animals as a play thing, especially while the mat is relatively new and clean. The animals will pick up the-mat if it is in the open and sometimes drag it from beneath a vehicle and carry it off to toss about and the like. Therefore, it is highly desirable to incorporate a repellant within the particulate material 22 for this purpose. It has been found that ground pepper is highly effective. The effect of thepepper is not dissipated by exposure as is the case of liquid repellants and has a long-lasting effect.

In operation when the occupant of a dwelling notices an oil spot to begin to accumulate on the surface A of the car port C, he places a mat on the oil spot so that the lower area or compartment 18 will absorb the oil that has accumulated on the area And the upper area 16 will receive and absorb the fresh oil dripping from the vehicle V. Usually, the vehicle repeatedly is parked in exactly the same location within the car port so that the upper side of the that 10 will be within the drip area. Depending upon the amount of oil leakage from the vehicle, a mat according to the invention will efficiently perform its function for many months and its cost is such that when it finally becomes so oil filled that its function is not sufficiently efiective, it readily can be replaced. The size and area of the mat is so relatively small that it does' not become a hinderance to pedestrian traffic through the car port.

I claim:

1. An oil drip mat, particularly for use in car ports, comprising a frame including an intermediate horizontal panel surrounded by a vertically disposed rim, said panel being secured to said rim intermediate the edges of said and dividing the enclosed area into upper and lower open chambers, an oil absorbent particulate material filling said upper and lower chamber areas, and a fabric envelope enclosing said frame and particulate material.

2. An oil drip mat according to claim 1 comprising an oil-proof lining over the upper surface of said panel and the inner walls of said rim above said panel.

3. An oil drip mat according to claim 2 wherein said frame comprises two shallow pans secured together bottom-to-bottom, said pan bottoms jointly defining said horizontal panel and said pans each having a rim which jointly defines said vertically disposed rim.

4. An oil drip mat according to claim 3 wherein said pans are composed of fiber board.

5. An oil drip mat according to claim 3 wherein said fabric comprises two sheets respectively spanning the open top and bottom of said frame with its edges fold ed over said rims and tucked between the peripheral portions of the bottoms of said pans, and an oil, water and gas resistant adhesive securing said fabric and pan bottoms together.

6. An-oil drip mat according to claim 5 comprising an animal repellant thoroughly mixed with said particulate material.

7. An oil drip mat according to'claim 6 wherein said repellant comprises ground pepper.

8. An oil drip mat according to claim 1 comprising an animal repellant thoroughly mixed with said particulate material.

9. An 01] drip mat according to claim 8 wherein said repellant comprises ground pepper. 

2. An oil drip mat according to claim 1 comprising an oil-proof lining over the upper surface of said panel and the inner walls of said rim above said panel.
 3. An oil drip mat according to claim 2 wherein said frame comprises two shallow pans secured together bottom-to-bottom, said pan bottoms jointly defining said horizontal panel and said pans each having a rim which jointly defines said vertically disposed rim.
 4. An oil drip mat according to claim 3 wherein said pans are composed of fiber board.
 5. An oil drip mat according to claim 3 wherein said fabric comprises two sheets respectively spanning the open top and bottom of said frame with its edges folded over said rims and tucked between the peripheral portions of the bottoms of said pans, and an oil, water and gas resistant adhesive securing said fabric and pan bottoms together.
 6. An oil drip mat according to claim 5 comprising an animal repellant thoroughly mixed with said particulate material.
 7. An oil drip mat according to claim 6 wherein said repellant comprises ground pepper.
 8. An oil drip mat according to claim 1 comprising an animal repellant thoroughly mixed with said particulate material.
 9. An oil drip mat according to claim 8 wherein said repellant comprises ground pepper. 